I’m Lauren, 35, and three weeks ago, I thought I was set to marry my perfect match, Noah. Wedding planning consumed me, but I loved it, dreaming of my dress since childhood. Noah and I met at a friend’s barbecue, laughing over a stuck ketchup bottle. His kind eyes and quick wit drew me in. We talked for hours, instantly connected. He proposed last fall at our favorite park, and I said yes, thrilled. Our engagement was a breeze, picking venues and flowers together, dodging the stress others warned about. We were solid—or so I thought.
A week before the wedding, Noah acted off—distant, always on his phone, cagey about his bachelor trip. He claimed it was camping with buddies, so I packed him granola bars, chalking it up to jitters. But at the mall, buying last-minute gifts, I ran into his groomsman, Cole. “You’re chill about the closure trip,” he said. My stomach dropped. “Closure trip?” Cole revealed Noah was going to Jamaica with his ex, Emma, not camping. I kept calm, prying for details, confirming it was a morning flight. Devastated, I went home, my wedding dress now a painful sight.
I called Ben, my college ex, who I’d kept in touch with through holiday texts. I shared Noah’s betrayal and pitched a crazy idea. “Pretend we’re doing a closure trip, too?” he chuckled. “I’m in.” I booked a trip to Costa Rica. On Noah’s travel day, I wore a light dress and saw him with Emma at the airport, giggling like old lovers. “Noah!” I called, smiling. His face fell. I turned to Ben, hugging him. “Ready, hon?” Noah stammered, “What’s going on?” I said, “Closure before the wedding? Great idea! Ben and I are doing it, too.”
Ben backed me up, saying closure was vital before vows. We headed to our gate, really flying to Costa Rica. Noah’s frantic texts—excuses, blame—piled up, but I blocked him before takeoff. In Costa Rica, Ben and I rekindled our spark, talking on the beach, laughing like before. Our college breakup was due to distance, but now we clicked perfectly. The trip stretched longer, and Ben moved to my city. He proposed, and we had a small wedding. Noah emailed later, “Your closure worked.” It did. That trip showed me my worth and led me to real love.
